Interchangeable, reinforced pull and rocking toy



A. MAY 3,075,763

INTERCHANGEABLE, REINFORCED PULL AND ROCKING TOY Jan. 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 27, 1961 INVENTOR.

' ALEX MAY Jan. 29, 1963 A. MAY 3,075,763

INTERCHANGEABLE, REINFORCED PULL AND ROCKING TOY Filed March 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ALEX r MAY AfZ'ORNEY 3, 7 INTERCHANGEABLE, REINFORCED PULL AND ROCKING TGY Alex May, 176-10 59th Ave, Flushing, N.Y. Filed Mar. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 98,463 4 Claims. (Cl. 27252.5)

This invention relates to childrens toys and more particul'a'rly to a combined convertible rolling and rocking toy animal for a child.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a toy animal in the form of a toy donkey adapted to be either rolled over a supporting surface or rocked upon said surface as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toy animal in the form of a toy donkey on a support wherein the support is adapted to be inverted and the figure of the donkey is adapted to be supported on the support in normal or inverted condition of the support. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy animal in the form of a toy donkey removably mounted on a convertible chassis whereby the toy donkey maybe rolled or rocked upon a supporting surface.

It is also an object to provide a toy donkey of this kind that is simple in construction, economical to mann facture and attractive in appearance.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

in the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a toy donkey embodying my invention, the reinforcing and attaching apparatus being shown in dotted lines, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

IG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4 of FIG. 3".

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the apparatus for reinforcing and attaching the body of the toy donkey to the wheeled base or chassis.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the wheeled base or chassis.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line Referring now in detail to the various views of the drawings, in FIG. 1 a hobby horse embodying my invention is shown and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The hobby horse It} comprises a chas sis or base 12 and a toy figure in the form of a toy donkey 14 supported on the chassis. The donkey is shown provided with a saddle 16 fastened to the body of the donkey by a belt 18 around the belly of the donkey. A bridle 2G is positioned around the head of the donkey and reins 22 extend rearw'ardly from the mouth 23 of the donkey. The tail 24 is decorated with an ornamental ball 26. The body of the donkey is stuffed with any suitable stufling material as indicated at 23 in FIG. 4, the stufiing provided a very strong and solid body capable of supporting a small child seated on the saddle.

The body has a plush fabric cover 34} and the bottom end of the legs 31 are provided with cuffs 33 of similar material. The cover 34) may be of any desired color,

Patented Jan. 29, 1&6?

such as gray, with the cuffs 33 of a contrasting color such as black. The ears 3S and mouth 23 of the donkey may be of a contrasting color such as white. The stirrup 2t and reins 22 may be of a still different color such as red.

Inside of the plush cover 3% of the body of the donkey, a reinforcing and attaching frame 32, shown in detail in FIG. 5, is positioned and embedded in the stuffing. The frame 32 consists of a pair of spaced inverted ii -shaped metal rods 34, 34 round in cross section and solid. The legs 36, 36 of each rod fid tapers or slants slightly outwardly of its bight portion 33 and longitudinally of the frame as well as laterally of the frame. Brace rods 44 4% of similar material are welded across the bight portions 38, 38 adjacent the ends thereof and another pair of brace rods 42., 42 are welded across the legs 36, 3t: adjacent their juncture with the bight portions, the ends 44 of the rods 42, 42 being bent inwardly of the frame.

A short metal tube 46 is mounted on the free end of each leg 36, 36 of the frame forming a socketed'extension 4-5 thereof. Each tube is split longitudinally from end to end as indicated at St) and each end of the tube is slitted forming fingers 52. In mounting, one end of the tube is slipped over the end of the leg 36 and welded thereto leaving the other end extending beyond the end of the leg 36 and serving as the socket 48.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the frame 32 is positioned in the belly of the body of the donkey with the legs 36, 36 of the frame extending through the legs 31 of the body of the donkey offset from the center of the legs as shown in FIG. 10. The socketed extensions 48 extend through openings 54 in the bottom closed ends of the cuffs 33. In each cuff, the socketed extension 43 extends through a metal washer 55 on the inside of the end of the cuff, through the opening 54; therein and the fingers 52 on the extremity of the extension is peened or bent over another metal washer 58 on the outside of the end of the cuff to protect the cuff from damage and to secure the leg 36 in position. A teat 59 on the tube body as prevents displacement of the washer 56 along the tube body. The frame 32 stiifens and rigidifies the body of the donkey so that a small child may sit on the body.

The chassis or base 12 as shown in FIGS. 69 comprises a oneiece rectangular-shaped frame Gil of round metal rod, the long sides of the frame Being slightly curved and constituting'rockers 62. A air of rods 64 and 66 of similar material extend longitudinally 'of the frame spaced slightly inwardly of each side 62 of the frame and disposed alongside of each other. Rod 6 is disposed below the ends 63 of the frame and rod 66 above the ends. The ends of the rods 64 and 66 are welded to the ends 68 of the frame bracing the frame. The rods 64 terminate in upwardly bent ends constituting upright supporting posts 7ft as viewed in FIG. 6 and the rods 66 also terminate in downwardly bent ends constituting downwardly extending supporting lugs 72 as viewed in FIG. 6. The upright posts and the lugs are slanted slightly inwardly of the adjacent ends 63 of the frame for a purpose to be presently described.

Au axle 76 of the same material as the frame extends across the frame 68 underneath each end 68 thereof and is welded to the adjacent ends of the rods 64. The axle extends beyond the sides of the frame and a disc-shaped wheel 78 is rotatably mounted on each extension 80 of the axle, the wheel being secured on the axle by a nut $2 on the end of the axle.

In assembling the toy donkey it) for rolling movement over a supporting surface S as shown in FIG. 1, the chassis 12 is placed on the supporting surface with its wheels 78 in contact with the surface as shown in FIG. 1. The body 14 of the toy donkey is attached to the chassis by inserting the socketed extensions 48 of the frame 32 in the legs 31 of the body of the donkey over the upright posts 70 of rods 64 of the chassis, the inwardly slanting posts accommodating the slanting legs 36 and socketed extensions 48 of the donkey body and permitting this operation, The donkey body is thus removably and firmly supported on the chassis for movement with the chassis over the surface. A flexible tape 76 has one end fastened to the front end 63 of the chassis 12 as viewed in FIG. 1 for pulling the toy donkey over the surface S. The tape may be formed with a hand loop 78' at its free end for grasping by the child. Of course, a child seated on the body of the toy donkey may use its legs for propelling the toy donkey over the surface.

In assembling the toy donkey for rocking movement on the supporting surface S, the chassis 12 is placed on the supporting surface with its curved side rockers 62 in contact with the surface as shown in FIG. 9. When the chassis is so positioned, the curvature of the rockers 62 is such that the wheels 78 are raised above the surface and the toy donkey is supported on the rockers 62. The body 14 of the toy donkey is attached to the chassis when it is in this inverted condition similarly to the manner used to attach it to the chassis when in the position of FIG. 1, by inserting the socketed extensions 48 of the frame 32 in the legs 31 of the body over the lugs 72 of rods 66, which lugs are now in upright position. The body of the toy donkey is removably and firmly supported on the chassis by means of the lugs 72 and downwardly manual pressure at either end of the body of the toy donkey will cause the toy donkey to rock on the side rockers 62.

The socket and post or lug connection of the body of the toy donkey to the chassis or base 12 permits ready disconnection between the body and chassis and the construction of the chassis or base is such that it can 7 be either supported on the wheels or on the rockers so that a readily convertible toy donkey is provided.

While the figure of a toy donkey has been depicted herein, it will be understood that the figure might be that of a toy horse or any other animal.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. In a toy of the kind described, a rectangular-shaped chassis and a toy donkey removably mounted on the chassis, said donkey having a stuffed body with four legs, a reinforcing frame in the belly portion of the body and extending into the legs of the body, tubular sockets on the ends of the portions of the frame extending into the legs of the body, said sockets forming extensions of the frame portions and projecting outwardly of the ends of the legs of the donkey body, a pair of brace rods extending along the chassis on each side thereof, the ends of one of the rods of each pair extending upwardly forming upright posts, the ends of the other rod of the pair extending downwardly forming downwardly extending lugs, said posts adapted to be removably inserted into said tubular sockets for detachably mounting the toy donkey on the chassis in one position of the chassis, said lugs adapted to be removably inserted into said tubular sockets for detachably mounting the toy donkey when the chassis is inverted into another position, wheels supported at the corners of the chassis for rolling the chassis and toy donkey over a supporting surface when the posts mount the toy donkey,

and curved rockers on the chassis between the wheels for rocking the chassis and toy donkey on said supporting surface when the lugs mount the toy donkey.

2. In a toy of the kind described, a rectangular-shaped chassis and a toy donkey removably mounted on the chassis, said donkey having a stuffed body with four legs, a reinforcing frame in the belly portion of the body and extending into the legs of the body, tubular sockets on the ends of the portions of the frame extending into the legs of the body, said sockets forming extensions of the frame portions and projecting outwardly of the ends of the legs of the donkey body, a pair of brace rods extending along the chassis on each side thereof, the ends of one of the rods of each pair extending upwardly forming upright posts, the ends of the other rod of each pair extending downwardly forming downwardly extending lugs, said posts adapted to be removably inserted into said tubular sockets for detachably mounting the toy donkey on the chassis in one position of the chassis, said lugs adapted to be removably inserted into said tubular sockets for detachably mounting the toy donkey when the chassis is inverted into another position, axles supported across the ends of the chassis and extending laterally of the chassis, wheels rotatably mounted on the extending ends of the axles, for rolling the chassis and toy donkey over a supporting surface when the posts mount the toy donkey, and curved rockers constituting the sides of the chassis between the wheels for rocking the chassis and toy donkey on said supporting surface when the lugs mount the toy donkey.

3. In a toy of the kind described, a rectangular-shaped chassis and a toy donkey figure removably mounted on the chassis, said donkey figure having a body with four legs, said body and legs being stuffed, a plush fabric cover over the stufiing, a reinforcing frame in the belly portion of the body and extending into the legs of the body, tubular sockets on the ends of the portions of the frame extending into the legs of the body, said sockets forming extensions of said frame portions, and protruding through openings in the cover at the ends of the legs, washers inside said openings receiving said sockets, washers on the protruding portions of the sockets outside said openings, said sockets having their outer ends slitted and bent over the washers on the outside of the leg ends, a pair of brace rods extending along the chassis on each side thereof, the ends of one of the rods of each pair extending upwardly forming upright posts, the ends of the other rod of each pair extending downwardly forming downwardly extending lugs, said posts adapted to be removably inserted into said tubular sockets for detachably mounting the toy donkey figure on the chassis in one position of the chassis, said lugs adapted to be removably inserted into said sockets for detachably mounting the toy donkey figure when the chassis is inverted into another position, wheels supported at the corners of the chassis for rolling the chassis and toy donkey figure over a supporting surface when the posts mount the toy donkey, and curved rockers on the chassis between the wheels for rocking the chassis and toy donkey figure on said supporting surface when the lugs mount the toy donkey figure.

4. A toy of the kind described in claim 1, wherein the posts and lugs are slanted slightly inwardly of the chassis and the legs and sockets of the reinforcing frame are slanted slightly outwardly of the ends of the frame for coaction with the slanted posts and lugs.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS 609,039 Canada Nov. 22, 1960 F nn My 7 1 

1. IN A TOY OF THE KIND DESCRIBED, A RECTANGULAR-SHAPED CHASSIS AND A TOY DONKEY REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE CHASSIS, SAID DONKEY HAVING A STUFFED BODY WITH FOUR LEGS, A REINFORCING FRAME IN THE BELLY PORTION OF THE BODY AND EXTENDING INTO THE LEGS OF THE BODY, TUBULAR SOCKETS ON THE ENDS OF THE PORTIONS OF THE FRAME EXTENDING INTO THE LEGS OF THE BODY, SAID SOCKETS FORMING EXTENSIONS OF THE FRAME PORTIONS AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF THE ENDS OF THE LEGS OF THE DONKEY BODY, A PAIR OF BRACE RODS EXTENDING ALONG THE CHASSIS ON EACH SIDE THEREOF, THE ENDS OF ONE OF THE RODS OF EACH PAIR EXTENDING UPWARDLY FORMING UPRIGHT POSTS, THE ENDS OF THE OTHER ROD OF THE PAIR EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FORMING DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING LUGS, SAID POSTS ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY INSERTED INTO SAID TUBULAR SOCKETS FOR DETACHABLY MOUNTING THE TOY DONKEY ON THE CHASSIS IN ONE POSITION OF THE CHASSIS, SAID LUGS ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY INSERTED INTO SAID TUBULAR SOCKETS FOR DETACH- 